MALTA-THEMED GARDEN WINS TOP PRIZE AT CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW IN LONDON

The judges found this garden very impressive.

A garden based on an abandoned Maltese limestone quarry has won the top prize at this year's Chelsea Flower Show in UK visited every year by the Royal family.

The garden, which includes slabs of Maltese limestone and plants unique to Malta, was named best in show London's annual festival of gardening.

Award-winning landscape designer James Basson said he took his take inspiration from the Maltese landscape.

What was the inspiration for the garden design?

The designer fell in love with Malta when visiting for pleasure, often by sailboat. “As it has such an incredibly diverse landscape, and an amazing natural flora considering the harsh climate and soil conditions the plants have to endure.

'The quarries in Malta are majestic, with a cathedral-like quality that is breathtaking and dramatic all at once.

'If you add to this the rich culture and history of Malta it seemed like an amazing story to tell in a garden.' Explained Mr Basson.

Which aspects of the garden do you predict will work particularly well?

'Hopefully the height of the pillars with give a sense of awe that we felt when in the quarries of Gozo and Malta, and then the planting will contrast and soften the whole space with greens and yellows giving a fresh spring flush that you see in southern Europe prior to everything drying out in the hot summer sun.

'The diversity of plant species should work well, we have been studying plant communities in Malta over the last two years to see what works where and in conjunction with which other species, so for the botanists there will be something to get excited about.'

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